I thought I might feel better after a night's sleep, but I don't. The management must carry the can for the formation because it was totally wrong. By all accounts the format at Lincoln had been a back four with Densmore at right-back; why on earth this was changed only Messrs. Sinnott & Tolson know. Our players are bears of comparatively little brain - if they weren't they'd be playing at a higher level. To ask them to operate two different defensive formations at short notice is unrealistic. Densmore was pushed up from the kick-off into what was effectively a midfield five, leaving a huge hole where a full-back should be. Blyth were aware of this & outflanked the back three by playing with pace and ball on ground down their left wing. The penalty was waiting to happen, & if Blyth were anything more than an NPL side in a somewhat false position they would have been out of sight in half an hour. The personnel were there, but the formation should have reverted to the back four as soon as we went one down.
Motivation is another issue. Blyth showed more desire, more passion, & thoroughly deserved their win. Motivation comes both from within & without - the blame has to be shared between management & players on this one.
Having watched the first half from the end we were defending, I have to say that Coburn risks turning indecision into an art form at times. I fear we may be reaching the end of a legendary road. The defence was betrayed by the system, but one home fan summed up the position accurately with the comment that 'if Blyth play the ball on the ground past the no. 16 (Marshall), they'll win easy'. The midfield was non-existent; Griffin did well enough from a defensive perspective in the Clee role but carries no threat going forward, & he was for me the best of a bad bunch. Moult over-hits passes with monotonous regularity; Williams ran about (literally in circles a couple of times) but with no end product; Richman is not a 'wide right midfield' player, & Densmore shouldn't have been there. Attack-wise, Reeves was barely in the game & Lawrie was frankly poor. Perry did all that could have been expected of him.
As I say, I thought a night's sleep might help - but it didn't. I fear the two games this week will yield nothing, in the aftermath of this abject non-performance. Wheeling & dealing in January is going to be vital - between now & then a lot of people (management and players) should be looking in the mirror & asking themselves a few questions. Fans spent a lot of good money yesterday & will be entitled to feel totally let down - I certainly do, & will be reviewing my plans for away trips accordingly.